Front sight for firearms.



No. 7|2,863. Patented Nov. 4, I902. A. TILTON.

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

(Applicatiozi filed June 23, 1902.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT TILTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WIN- CHESTER REPEATING ARMS 00., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION.

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,863, dated November 4, 1902. Application filed. June 23, 1902. Serial No.112,913. (No model.)

T0 at Hill/Omit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT TILTON, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovementinFrontSightsforFirearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the numerals of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a view in rear elevation of one form which a sight containing my improvement may assume; Fig. 2, a view thereof in side elevation; Fig. 3, a view in rear elevation of another form which my improved sight may assume; Fig. 4, a view thereof in side elevation.

My invention relates to animprovement in front sights for firearms, the object being to produce at a low cost a simple, compact, durable, and convenient sight having a lightcolored sight-point.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a front sight for firearms comprising a sight proper provided with a light-colored metal sight-point composed of a small body of the metal directly cohered to the sight, so as to constitute a virtually integral part thereof.

In carrying out my invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I locate a small globule-like light-colored sight-point 2 upon the rear end of the horizontal rib 3, formed integral with the upper edge of the leaf 4 of the sight, which also comprises a transverselyarranged dovetail 5, designed to enter a corresponding groove formed transversely in the top of the gun-barrel. The sight-point is applied to the metal of the sight proper, to which it is directly cohered, so as to be virtually integral therewith. For the sight-point I preferably use pure tin, though I may use other light-colored metals or light-colored compositionssuch, for instance, as solder, spelter, &c. In carrying out my invention the sight proper is preferably finished and blued. Then the bluing is removed by buff ing, filing, or otherwise from the rear end of the sight-rib 3. The exposed metal is then treated with acid to clean the metal, so as to secure a surface to which another metal will cohere. The sight is then dipped into the bath of the sight-point metal, whatever it may be, so as to expose its cleaned and acidtreated surface thereto. When now the sight is lifted from the bath, a small globule-like mass of the sight-point metal will be found adhered to the sight. This little mass of metal hardens before it can drop back into the bath and forms a symmetrical globulelike sight-point which coheres directly to the metal of the sight proper in such a way that it virtually becomes an integral part thereof. If desired, it can afterward be trimmed, shaped, and finished. It takes the place of the ivory sight-points which heretofore have very generally been employed and which are not only expensive, but frail.

In the construction shown by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings a similar sight-point 6 is ap-' plied in the same way to the upper corner of the rear edge of a pivotal leaf-like sight 7, turning upon the pin 8, mounted in a dovetail base 9.

Of course a sight-point such as described may be applied to a great variety of gunsights; but the forms shown will sufficiently.

illustrate my invention. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such altera tions therein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a front sight for firearms consisting of a sight proper provided with a sight-point composed of a small body of light-colored metal directly adhered to the external face of the sight so as to constitute a virtually integral part thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT TILTON.

Witnesses: I

DANIEL H. VEADER, THOMAS C. JOHNSON. 

